Epilogue 1 - A Freedom to Propose
The office party was in full swing, and Hana found herself surrounded by her cheerful colleagues. She was wearing a lovely blue dress that complemented her beauty, and her laughter resonated through the room. As the night progressed, the atmosphere became livelier, and everyone was having a great time.
As the music played and laughter filled the air, Hana mingled with her colleagues, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Her colleagues couldn't help but compliment her on her appearance, praising her sense of style and beauty. The party was a joyful occasion, and Hana's presence added an extra sparkle to the event.
Hana stood with Rose and Nayeon, who were playfully teasing Momo and Heechul, who were engaged in a flirty conversation nearby. Momo blushed and playfully pushed Heechul, but he was relentless in his pursuit, causing more laughter among their friends.
Rose grinned mischievously and said, "Momo, don't try to resist. We all know you secretly enjoy his attention."
Nayeon chimed in, "Yeah, it's not like you to be shy. Embrace it, girl!"
Momo rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her amusement. "Alright, alright, but don't expect me to admit anything!"
Meanwhile, Sehun stood a little apart from the group, his gaze drawn towards Irene, who was chatting animatedly with Suho. He tried to act nonchalant, but his friends could see right through him.
Kyungsoo, always observant, smiled at Sehun. "She's right there, you know."
Sehun looked a bit flustered. "I-I know, but what if she's not interested?"
Kyungsoo patted his back reassuringly. "You'll never know if you don't try. Just go for it!"
On the other side of the room, Hana noticed the little exchange between Sehun and Irene. She nudged Rose, who was standing beside her, and whispered, "Look at them! Do you think Irene will accept Sehun tonight?"
Rosel chuckled and replied, "I hope so. It's about time they figure things out."
Baekhyun joined their group with his usual flair, exclaiming, "Hi, missed me?" to which everyone playfully replied, "no." He dramatically clutched his chest, feigning hurt, and said, "Ahh!! It hurts!" But he quickly returned to his usual self, laughing along with the others. "You guys are so bad," he teased.
"You look beautiful as always, Hana," Baekhyun complimented sincerely.
Hana couldn't resist joking, "Thank you. I wish I could say the same."
Baekhyun pretended to be hurt once again, causing her to laugh and shake her head playfully. "You look too dashing. If I wasn't dating, then I would've fallen for you," she teased back.
Baekhyun beamed, "That's a good compliment coming from you, Hana." She smiled in return, appreciating their playful banter.
Nayeon chimed in with a mischievous grin, "But don't let the boss know about this. Or else he would fire Baekhyun." Laughter filled the air, and Hana blushed lightly.
The entire group joined in the teasing, with Nayeon urging, "Oh my god, Hana, stop blushing!" They all discovered that teasing Hana was the surest way to make her shy and blush.
Baekhyun then smoothly asked, "Okay, will you dance with me, my lady?" He extended his hand in a gentlemanly gesture, and Hana playfully narrowed her eyes before placing her hand in his, smiling all the while.
The two of them gracefully made their way to the dance floor, where they started dancing. As they moved to the music, Hana couldn't help but reminisce about the party they had attended two years ago when she first started working at the company. Time had flown by so quickly, and she couldn't believe it had been two years already.
After a few minutes of chatting, Hana decided to share a little secret with Baekhyun. "Baek, back in high school, I had a secret admirer who used to give me chocolates and letters. You remember the masquerade party, right? I danced with Chanyeol that night, and I thought maybe he was the one behind those sweet gestures. But I didn't want to ask him directly, in case it wasn't him and he got jealous. You know how he can be," she said with a playful smile.
Baekhyun nodded, understanding the situation. "I get it. Chanyeol may seem tough on the outside, but he's quite sensitive when it comes to certain things," he replied.
Hana continued, "Exactly, that's why I didn't want to bring it up. But now, after all this time, I'm starting to think it wasn't him. I wonder if you might know anything about it from our high school days?"
Baekhyun thought for a moment, trying to recall any hints or clues from their past. "Well, knowing Chanyeol, I don't think it was him. He's not the type to approach someone like that. The fact that he danced with you at the masquerade party was already a big deal for him, considering how shy he was back then," Baekhyun explained.
Hana laughed, reminiscing about the past. "You're right. I remember how nervous he seemed that night, and yet he mustered the courage to dance with me," she said with a fond smile. Baekhyun smiled back, happy to see Hana and Chanyeol together.
Her gaze then shifted to Chanyeol, who was looking handsome in his black tuxedo. Their eyes met, and they exchanged smiles. Baekhyun continued, "I guess you should throw those letters away because it was definitely not him. We don't want Hana keeping a creepy guy's letters, now do we?"
Hana smiled at Baekhyun's genuine concern and appreciation, and he playfully twirled her around. When she spun back, she found herself in Chanyeol's arms as he gently held her waist. Her dance partner had changed. Chanyeol smiled at her, and it was an automatic reaction for Hana to smile back at him. Everyone in the room was looking at their boss with his girlfriend.
After everyone found out about Hana and Chanyeol's relationship, there were some rumours and gossip about Hana seducing him, but she didn't let it bother her. Some people even hated her, but as time went by, others noticed that Hana managed Chanyeol very well. He used to be arrogant and cold with his workers, but not as much now. Hana had a way of handling him that made everything smoother. People in the office started shipping the two together and looked forward to seeing them together.
Even though Hana and Chanyeol didn't engage in public displays of affection and maintained their professionalism at work, everyone could see the love in their eyes when they looked at each other. As they danced, Chanyeol leaned in and whispered into Hana's ears, causing a shiver down her spine. "You look beautiful, babe," he said.
Despite being together for two years, Hana still blushed and felt butterflies in her stomach at his sweet words. She replied playfully, "You too, my boy." Chanyeol chuckled, enjoying her endearing way of addressing him.
As they continued dancing, Chanyeol told Hana, "I have a surprise for you, babe." A smile crept on his face when he said that.
Hana's eyes lit up with excitement as she asked, "What is it?" Chanyeol chuckled at her reaction.
Chanyeol came closer, his voice low and enticing, "You'll see, princess. Patience is a virtue." Hana playfully rolled her eyes and pouted. Chanyeol couldn't resist flirting with her, saying, "Don't pout. I might feel like kissing you."
Blushing, she lightly hit his shoulder, warning, "You better not. This is the office, not our room." Chanyeol playfully teased, "Okay, then. We can go to the room."
Hana's eyes widened, and she hit his arm again, saying, "Chanyeol!" in disbelief at his audacity. The two of them laughed, thoroughly enjoying each other's company. From afar, Baekhyun watched them, a warm smile on his face. He tried to distract himself by engaging with others, but he couldn't help feeling happy for his friend and his boss, knowing that they had found love in each other.
~
After the dance, Hana found herself back with her colleagues who were engaged in conversation. Suddenly, the sound of someone clearing their throat echoed through the mic, capturing everyone's attention. Hana turned to see Chanyeol standing there, a mischievous smile on his lips, and her heart skipped a beat. He rarely acted this playfully in front of her colleagues, and she couldn't help but blush, her eyes widening in surprise.
Chanyeol's eyes met hers, and he winked, causing her cheeks to grow warmer. Her colleagues didn't miss the exchange and immediately started teasing her. "Ooh~ Boss seems to be in a romantic mood today," Seojun chimed in, a sly grin on his face.
Trying to hide her embarrassment, Hana mustered a playful response, "I guess he's just about to say something important. Let's focus on that, shall we?" She hoped to divert their attention from her blushing face.
Kyungsoo, ever the observant one, saw right through her attempt. He joined in on the teasing, saying, "Admit it, Hana. You're blushing."
Hana's eyes widened, and she looked at Kyungsoo with mock annoyance, "Not you too, Kyungsoo!" But she couldn't help but chuckle at his teasing, showing off his heart-shaped lips that he was known for.
Chanyeol, still standing with the microphone, finally began to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for joining us tonight. I have a little announcement to make," he said, looking directly at Hana, his smile turning more genuine.
Her heart pounded, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was going to say. Her colleagues hushed, curious to hear the announcement. Chanyeol took a step closer to Hana, causing her heart to race even faster.
"I want to take a moment to appreciate someone very special," he continued, his gaze never leaving Hana's. "Hana, you've been by my side through thick and thin, and I can't imagine living my life without you. You bring so much joy and positivity into my life, and I'm grateful for every day we get to spend together."
The room filled with "awws" and happy cheers from her colleagues, and Hana's face turned a deeper shade of red. Chanyeol's words were touching, and she felt the love and warmth in his voice.
"And now, I have one more surprise for you," Chanyeol said, pulling out a small velvet box from his pocket. He got down on one knee, and Hana's eyes widened in shock.
He opened the box to reveal a beautiful ring, and her heart skipped a beat. "Hana, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with love and sincerity.
As the room filled with cheers and excitement, Hana's colleagues joined in, shouting, "Say yes, Hana!" The joyful atmosphere seemed to envelop her, and she couldn't take her eyes off Chanyeol, who was smiling at her with so much love and anticipation.
Still trying to find her voice, Hana managed to nod with tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks. "Yes! Yes, Chanyeol!" she finally exclaimed, her heart overflowing with joy.
The cheers grew louder, and her colleagues clapped, genuinely happy for the couple. Chanyeol stood up, his face glowing with happiness, and pulled Hana into a tight embrace. The room erupted into applause, and some of her colleagues playfully whistled, adding to the celebratory mood.
Amid the commotion, Hana and Chanyeol felt like they were in their own little world, wrapped up in each other's arms. Time seemed to stand still as they relished the magical moment together.
Once the cheers began to die down, Chanyeol gently brushed away the tears from Hana's cheeks with his thumb, his smile never fading. "You've made me the happiest man alive," he whispered, his voice filled with affection.
Hana beamed up at him, her heart full of love for this man who had become her rock and her guiding light. "And you've made me the happiest woman in the world," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion.
Chanyeol once again held the mic, and his voice carried a sense of excitement as he announced, "I have another important announcement to make! From now on, the rule of not dating coworkers is officially cancelled!"
Hana's eyes widened in astonishment, her heart racing with joy. The room erupted into cheers and applause as everyone celebrated the newfound freedom to love their colleagues openly. Chanyeol's employees shouted, "Boss is the best, and Boss's fiancée is even better!"
Hana laughed at their enthusiasm, feeling grateful for the love and support from her colleagues. Chanyeol looked at her with a tender smile, and they shared a special moment of understanding.
With a big smile, Chanyeol pulled Hana closer, and they hugged tightly. She whispered, "Thank you so much. I love you."
Chanyeol's smile widened, and he replied, "I love you more, my beautiful fiancée."
Meanwhile, the others in their department were overjoyed by the news. Kyungsoo and Nayeon exchanged glances, and a smile crept across Kyungsoo's face. Feeling emboldened by the newfound freedom, Nayeon playfully teased, "So, now that we can date, will you finally ask me out?"
Kyungsoo chuckled, his heart feeling lighter than ever before. "Of course," he replied, "I'd love to go out with you."
Heechul couldn't resist teasing them, "Looks like we have one more couple in our department! Kyungsoo, you better not keep Nayeon waiting too long!"
The group burst into laughter, and the joyous atmosphere enveloped them all. Love and happiness filled the room as everyone embraced the newfound freedom to love openly and without hesitation.
As the night continued, the office party turned into a celebration of love and unity. Colleagues danced together, teased each other, and revealed the happiness that love had brought into their lives.
In the midst of it all, Hana and Chanyeol stood hand in hand, knowing that their love had not only brought them together but also sparked a change that would make a difference in the lives of their colleagues.
Together, they looked forward to a future filled with love, support, and a workplace where relationships could flourish without fear or restriction. The once forbidden love was now celebrated and cherished, and it was a night that everyone would remember for a lifetime.